KEEP away from danger, stay close to your friends, tell your parents where you are going, and enjoy yourself.
That is the advice to youngsters looking forward to playing outdoors this summer from youth services boss Paul Caswell.
Speaking after children were spotted putting their lives in danger by climbing on pipes which cross the beck in Cleethorpes Country Park, Mr Caswell stressed the dangers of playing near open water.
But he insisted it was important for children to be able to enjoy North East Lincolnshire's open spaces, and also highlighted the many outdoor activities put on for youngsters throughout the summer months.
Mr Caswell, the service manager for Young & Safe at the council's Young People's Support Services (YPSS), told the Grimsby Telegraph that his team would be touring parks and open spaces across the borough during the summer, offering a wide range of activities for youngsters to try for free.
Mr Caswell, who is also the Humberside Police sergeant responsible for youth justice and diversion on the South Bank, said that both the police and youth services would be upping their patrols throughout the summer, but added that children – and their parents – needed to take responsibility for their safety.
"The message is a three-pronged one: Young people should avoid areas of open water and other obvious dangers; tell their parents, guardians and friends where they are going; and to enjoy the parks and open spaces that we have in abundance in North East Lincolnshire.
"From a policing point of view, we would highlight the risk in playing near open water, but we will be upping our patrols in the summer months engaging with young people, and putting on activities that they want to do.
"From a youth services point of view the message is that while young people that are going out and about in the lighter evenings enjoy themselves, they need to make sure they are in a safe environment and that their parents and guardians know where they are.
"Parents should not have to tell their kids not to go out, but they should know where their children are.
"Children should avoid playing near open water and stay with their friends, but still enjoy the open spaces and parks that North East Lincolnshire has in abundance.
Mr Caswell added: "There are lots of activities for young people to enjoy, and we will be putting on additional activities in the spring and summer months.
"We have a fully functioning mobile street team going out to engage with the young people and we have also recently purchased a portable football cage and climbing wall, which will be going out throughout the summer across the borough for young people to enjoy.
